The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-06-22
VICTORY AND VICTORIA
A Comparison Between Nelson's F1sgshlp
and . Modern Iron. Clad.

VICTORY AND VICTORIA
A Comparison Between Nelson's F1.sshil
and Modern Iron-C Clad.
Sir William Armstrong, in tn
course of his speech on the launch o
the new, British iron-clad Victoria
made some interesting remarks ON tn,
past and present of English men-of
war: '1n an esthetic point of view, .
ne said, ut must be confessed ou1
ships have sadly deteriorated. Nc
more beautiful object could be seer
than great man-of-war of the ole
type under press Of sail. Poets and
painters have delighted in depicting
it; but the engineer appreciates power
more than beauty, and while Ruskin
would stigmatize modern warship as
a devil ship, the engineer regards il
as splendid triumph of mechanical
skill" Sir William then went on to
take particular instance, and CON-
pared the new Victoria with the old
Victory. The Victory, in accordance
with the usage of the time, was bull Of
oak; the Victoria in accordance with
present practice, is built of iron. The
The Victory was propelled by wind,
over which man has no control; the
Victoria will be propelled by steam,
over which man has perfect mastery.
The Victory had the character of be-
ing an extraordinary quick sailer, and
when the wind in its vagaries hap
pened to be exceptionally propitious
she could attain speed of nearly thir-
teen knots an hour. The Victoria,
propelled by engines of more than 49,
OoO-horse-power, may be expected to
achieve about seventeen knots an
hour, and will be Independent of the
wind. In regard to armament, the
comparison in favor of the Victoria is
astounding, and ought to open the
eyes of those who are in the habit of
disparaging the progress of artillery
in this country. The armament Of
the Victory, as she fought at Ira
falgar, consisted of thirty So
Founders, thirty 24-pounders,
forty 12-pounders, and two g.
FOUNDER carronades. making in all 102
guns. The heaviest of these guns was
under three tons, while the heaviest
on board the Victory is ITO tons. The
largest charge of powder used in the
Victory was 8 pounds, while the larg-
est charge to be used in the Victoria
will be 900 pounds. The heaviest shot
used in the Victory was 68 pounds,
while in the Victoria it will be 1900
pounds. The weight of metal dis
charged from the broadside of the
Victory was 1,150 pounds, against
4, $50 pounds from that of the Victoria,
but the power of the broadside dis
charge from each ship Is better indi-
Gated by the quantity Of powder ex-
pended than by the weight of metal
discharged, and while the broadsidc fire
from the Victory consumed only
225 pounds, that from the Victoria
will consume only 5000 pounds. In
point OF range. accuracy. penetrating
power and she'll power, the difference
is so great in favor of the Victoria that
\ comparison would be ridiculous.
have yet to give you the particulars OF
The Victoria's armament. It will con-
sist of two 110-guns. mounted in re-
turret, and firing ahead or on
either side; one Bottom gun, firing
astern or on either aside, twelve 5-ton
guns; twelve 6-pounder quick-fring
guns, and nine 3-pounder quick-firing
gums, and considerable number Of
nachine-guns for small ammunition.
Besides her artillery armament the
Victoria has powerful ram. and she
carries eight torpedo discharges. four
Ibove and four below water. In the
lighting days of the Victoria, ramming
vas little practiced, and torpedoes were
Wholly unknown. Therefore in these
aspects no comparison can
'e drawn, but there is another point
+ view in witch the Victoria compares
highly favorable degree with the
'ictory, and that is in the smallness of
he number of officers and men re-
uired to handle the ships. The COM
lement OF offers and men on board
he Victory was $50, while on board
ne Victoria it will only be $50, of
HON ITO will be engineers and stok-
rs, leaving only 44O officers and men
combatant capacity. Thus, al
nough the Victoria is three times as
ig as the Victory and prodlgiously SUI
error in offensive power, there will
My be half the number of men ex-
osed to death and wounds in the
'orking of her armament. This re-
llt is chiefly due to the mechanical
ppliances which in recent years have
cen introduced for working the guns.
London Telegraph
A Rich Woman's Whim,